Jeff Poor

On Wednesday’s broadcast of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” the Center for American Progress’ Christie Hefner said that Chicago’s sky-high murder rate could be blamed — at least in part — on climate change.

“Yes, last year we hit a record number of murders from guns [in Chicago],” Hefner, the former chairwoman and chief executive officer of Playboy Enterprises, said. “And this year we are already outpacing last year’s numbers. Now, there are contributing factors that are not under anybody’s control and may seem odd, but it is factually true. One of them is actually the weather. There is a dramatic increase in gun violence when it is warmer. And we are having this climate change effect that is driving that.”

The average high temperature July, the hottest month in both Chicago and the much-safer New York City, is the same for both cities at 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Scarborough took a moment to sardonically thank Hefner for that statement on behalf of conservative bloggers.

“Christie, can I just stop you and say conservative bloggers across America, thank you for saying that climate change is responsible for the rising murder rates in Chicago,” Scarborough said. “You have just made a lot of people in their basements of their mothers’ homes very happy.”

Hefner denied that was exactly what she said, but just wanted to point out the correlation.

“I don’t believe that’s exactly what I said,” Hefner said. “I said there are a number of contributing factors and a correlation with heat waves and gun violence. But, what I was going to say is, yes from my understanding from talking to people in the city is there has been a different approach to policing since Mayor Emanuel was elected. And there is a theory — but back to the point of we need to get facts — there is a theory that that is demonstrably less effective, and that’s being reexamined right now.”